Bathtub support



June 26, 1956 E. D. WILKEYRSQN BATHTUB SUPPORT Filed May 15. 1952 INVENTOR Edward Z 7717766715075.

BY n'romvms United States Patent BATHTUB SUPPORT Edward D. Wilkerson, Livingston, N. J.

Application May 13, 1952, Serial No. 287,567

8 Claims. (Cl. 4-173) The invention relates generally to bathtub supporting means and primarily seeks to provide a novel supporting means of the character stated which is capable of automatically holding a bathtub tightly against the overhanging wall facing and thereby avoiding the development of unsightly crevices immediately above the tub outline and which commonly result from shrinkage of wood or wall structure settling conditions.

it is well known that bathtubs are formed in various sizes and shapes, and it is standard practice to so install such structures as to cause an end and one side, or both ends and one side to underlie a wall trim surface in the form of decorative tiling or the like. At the time of the original installation the tiling or other trim surface is brought down into very close proximity to the tub flange or portion extending thereunder, and by the introduction of the conventional plaster filler or caulking a union devoid of unsightly cracks is provided where the trim surface meets the underlying tub portion. However, as the wood in the house structure dries out and shrinks, or wall and fioor settlement occurs, the bathtub falls away slightly from the overlying trim surface, and very unsightly cracks develop between the wall trim or tiling and the underlying bathtub portions.

It is a purpose of the present invention to provide a novel means for so supporting the bathtub as to always yieldably press the wall trim or tiling underlying portions of the same upwardly aganist said overlying trim or tiling in a manner for automatically compensating for wood shrinkage or structure settlement and assuring against the development of unsightly cracks above the tub.

An object of the invention is to provide a novel bathtub supporting means of the character stated comprising means constantly applying pressure to portions of the bathtub in a direction and manner for holding portions thereof underlyin wall trim or tiling tightly against said trim or tiling.

Another object of the invention is to provide bathtub suporting means of the character stated comprising multiple support units arranged in spaced relation and each including telescoped plunger and cup elements and interposed compression spring means constantly tending to force the plunger and cup elements of each unit apart, one element of each said unit being disposed to apply pressure against a part of the bathtub, and the other element of each said unit being disposed to apply pressure against a fixed support.

Another object of the invention is to provide bathtub supporting units of the character'stated wherein are included means for holding the spring means under inactive compression during the installation of the tub and the placement of the overlying wall trim or tiling, said holding means being releasable after completion of the installation to allow the spring means to yieldably press .the bathtub against the overlying wall trim or tiling.

With the above and other objects in view that will hereinafter appear, the nature of the invention will be more fully understood by following the detailed description,

2 the appended claims and the several views illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section through a wall and floor structure, a bathtub being shown installed and supported according to the invention, and parts of the bathtub skirting being broken away.

Figure 2 is an inverted plan view of the bathtub shown in Figure l, the supporting units being shown in place thereon.

Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical cross section taken on the line 3-3 on Figure 1.

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail vertical cross section taken on the line 44 on Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a horizontal section taken on the line 5-5 on Figure 4.

Figure 6 is an enlarged detail vertical cross section illustrating a modified form of support unit.

In the example of embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, the floor or other support is indicated at 5, the bathtub generally designated 6 being supported in the usual manner thereon. The bathtub includes the usual Water receiving body 7, and the outwardly directed flange portion 8 merging at one or more sides or ends into a skirt 9 The usual water supply faucets are indicated at it), and the drain at 11, and the plumbing fixtures are accessible through the usual access door 12 formed in the wall structure generally designated 13 and to which is applied the trim surface 14 in the form of decorative tiling or the like which overlies the flange portion 8 of the bathtub in the usual manner as illustrated in Figures 1, 3 and 6.

The bathtub is equipped with a plurality of depending supporting feet in the form of generally cylindrical plungers 15 which are telescoped in cups in resting on the floor or base 5. A compression spring 17 is mounted in each cup under the plunger 35 projecting downwardly thereinto, and each said spring applies yieldable pressure upwardly against the respective plunger and constantly tends to force it out of the cup. Each cup is provided with aligned apertures 18, and each cooperating plunger 15 is provided with a cross aperture 19 which may be registered with the cup apertures in the manner clearly illustrated in Figure 4 to receive a removable pin 2%.

it is to be understood that in the initial mounting of the bathtub, the supporting units 15, 16, 17 are applied in the manner illustrated in Figures 1 and 3 with the pull pins Zli inserted through the aligned apertures 18 and 19 and holding each compression spring l7 under inactive compression. In other Words, while each said spring will be under compression, the same will be an inactive compression because the inserted pin 26 overcomes the constant tendency of the spring to force the plunger out of the respective cup. With the supporting units in this condition, the bathtub will be placed and the trim surface or tiling 34 will be applied so as to overlie the flange portion 8 and provide a neat union therewith in the manner clearly illustrated in Figures 1 and 3. After the bathtub has been placed in the manner stated, the pull pins 20 can be removed so as to release the springs 17 and allow them to apply yielding pressure upwardly against the plungers 15 so as to tightly press the flange portion of the bathtub against the overlying portion of the trim surface or tiling 14.. In-this manner, any shrinkage of floor supporting joists or any settling of the bathtub by reason of wall structure settling will be compensated for and a tight and neat union between the bathtub flange portion 8 and the overlying trim surface or tiling l4 always will be assured. In other'words, assurance is provided against the development of unsightly cracks or openings between the flange portion 8 of the bathtub andthe overlying trim surface or tiling 14.

.The removal of the pull pins 20 can be efiected'through the access door 12, and this removal can be facilitated by the use of attached wires 21, if desired.

In the modified form of the invention illustrated in Figure 6, the cup 22 directly engages under the flange 23 of the bathtub which in turn underlies the trim surface or tiling 24. The plunger 25 projects upwardly from a support 26 extending horizontally from a bracket member 27 which is removably secured as at 28 to the wall studding or any other suitable support indicated at 29. The compression spring 30 which is interposed between the plunger 25 and the cup 22 constantly tends to force the cup upwardly and hold the flange portion 23 of the bathtub tightly against the trim surface or tiling 24.

It is to be understood that the compression springs are strong enough to exert an upward pressure greater than the total weight of the bathtub when filled with water and occupied by a person, thus to assure constant pressure of the flange portion of the bathtub against the overlying trim surface or tiling. In an installation suchas is shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 each one of the four legs should be charged with at least 200 pounds of upward pressure and each plunger should be capable of at least one-quarter of an inch of settlement or shrinkage compensating travel.

It is to be understood that the apparatus disclosed herein is but an example form of apparatus and that the same may be variously changed without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In combination, a bathtub having a laterally extending flange portion, a wall structure having a trim surface overlying said flange portion, and supporting means disposed to support at least a part of the weight of the bathtub and including spring means constantly applying pressure upwardly against a portion of the bathtub for progressively urging and holding said flange portion tightly against said trim surface, thereby preventing development of an unsightly crack between said flange portion and trim surface.

2. In combination, a bathtub having a laterally extending flange portion, a wall structure having a trim surface overlying said flange portion, and supporting means disposed to support at least a part of the weight of the bathtub and including spring means constantly applying pressure upwardly against said flange portion to progressively press it tightly against said trim surface and prevent de velopment of an unsightly crack between said flange portion and the trim surface.

3. The combination as defined in claim 2 in which there are included means for holding the spring means under inactive compression during installation of the bathtub and the placement of the trim surface in overlying relation to the flange portion thereof, and means for releasing the holding means after said installation and placement to allow the spring means to serve its purpose of yieldably pressing said flange portion against said trim surface.

4. In combination, a bathtub having a laterally extended flange portion, a wall structure including studding and a trim surface overlying said flange portion, and means constantly applying pressure upwardly against a portion of the bathtub for progressively urging and holding said flange portion tightly against said trim surface, thereby preventing development of an unsightly crack between said flange portion and trim surface, said last named means including at least one pressure applying unit comprising a bracket secured to the studding and having a plunger extending upwardly therefrom, an inverted cup extending downwardly over the plunger and engaged upwardly against the flange, and a spring coiled about the plunger within the cup and constantly tending to displace the cup upwardly oflf the plunger.

5. In combination, a bathtub having a laterally extending flange portion, a wall structure having a trim surface overlying said flange portion, and means constantly applying pressure upwardly against a portion of the bathtub, said pressure applying means comprising a plurality of spaced support units each including telescoped plunger and cup elements and interposed compression spring means constantly tending to force the plunger and cup elements of each unit apart, one element of each said unit being disposed to apply pressure upwardly against a part of the bathtub, and the other element of each said unit being disposed to apply pressure downwardly against a fixed support.

6. In combination, a bathtub having a laterally extending flange portion, a wall structure having a trim surface overlying said flange portion, and means constantly applying pressure upwardly against a portion of the bathtub, said pressure applying means comprising a plurality of spaced support units each including telescoped plunger and cup elements and interposed compression spring means constantly tending to force the plunger and cup elements of each unit apart, one element of each said unit being disposed to apply pressure upwardly against a part of the bathtub, and the other element of each said unit being disposed to apply pressure downwardly against a fixed support, and there are also included means for holding the plunger and cup elements of each said unit partially telescoped with the particular spring between them for holding the spring under inactive compression during installation of the bathtub and the placement of the trim surface in overlying relation to the flange portion thereof, and means for releasing each said holding means after said installation and placement to allow the springs to serve their purpose of yieldably pressing said flange portion against said trim surface.

7. In combination, a bathtub having a laterally extending flange portion, a wall structure having a trim surface overlying said flange portion, and means constantly applying pressure upwardly against a portion of the bathtub, said pressure applying means comprising a plurality of spaced support units each including a cup disposed to rest upon a supporting base and a plunger depending from the bathtub and telescoped in the cup and a compression spring in the cup and supporting and yieldably pressing upwardly on the plunger tending to displace the same from the cup.

8. In combination, a bathtub having a laterally extending flange portion, a wall structure having a trim surface overlying said flange portion, and means constantly applying pressure upwardly against a portion of the bathtub, said pressure applying means comprising a plurality of spaced support units each including a cup disposed to rest upon a supporting base and a plunger depending from the bathtub and telescoped in the cup and a compression spring in the cup and supporting and yieldably pressing upwardly on the plunger tending to displace the same from the cup, each said cup and plunger set having apertures subject to registry with the respective spring under compression, and there being included initially in each said set a pull pin extending through the registering apertures and holding the spring under inactive compression during installation of the bathtub and the placement of the trim surface in overlying relation to the flange portion thereof, said pins being withdrawable after said installation and placement to allow the springs to actively urge the plungers upwardly in the cups.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,922,839 'Brotz Aug. 15, 1933 1,933,670 Holt Nov. 7, 1933 1,962,784 Nelson June 12, 1934 2,013,720 Thompson Sept. 10, 1935 2,128,030 Koleno Aug. 23, 1938 FOREIGN PATENTS 3,139 Great Britain Feb. 6, 1913 

